UW Board of Trustees Approves Five Year Strategic Plan

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a five year strategic plan during their meeting in Rock Springs today.

The plan, titled “Breaking Through 2017-2022: A Strategic Plan for the University of Wyoming” focuses on student recruitment, retention and graduation, remotely offered degree programs, increased collaboration with the state’s community colleges and k-12 schools, research funding and private contributions to the university, according to a University of Wyoming news release.

UW Provost Kate Miller, who chaired the Strategic Planning Leadership Council, said the goals are set high, but measures are already being taken to achieve them.

“These are ambitious goals for the university that will require significant focus, hard work and collaboration among everyone at the university and our many constituents and supporters,” Miller says in a statement. “Many efforts to achieve these goals are already underway, and others will take shape as individual units build their strategic plans under the framework of the university’s overall plan.”

The plan outlines goals to increase enrollment from 12,366 students to 13,000 in 2022, to increase the graduation rate from 54.4 percent to 60 percent, to increase annual research funding from $95.3 million to $115 million and to increase the number of endowed faculty positions from 36 to 60.

To bolster academics, the plan calls for establishing a center for integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics education as well as improving student opportunities in research, internships, international experiences, leadership and community service.

Better relationships with Wyoming and regional high schools is also on the agenda. The plan includes visits and pre-college summer and academic programs on campus, the creation of dual-enrollment and other transfer processes with the state’s community colleges, increasing the number of students enrolled in hybrid and online degree programs and establishing an Office of Engagement and Outreach.